Isn't it time again to do the whole thing, Murphy to Manteo? Realize that it takes longer, and is more difficult for CNC to work out logistics, but that ride is THE ride and it needs to be offered occassionally.
Yeah, I agree with you that a M to M ride would be special, but I was kinda thinking that CNC might attempt that for its 10th anniversary ride (2008). That is indeed the classic across NC route.
Amanda will be pretty busy for the next year or two IMO as she settles into CNC leadership. We're repeating host cities now, some up to 3 times in 6 years. That makes the logistics easier because CNC knows 'who to call' and what works, but the 'buzz' isn't there for the veterans.
For 2006 or 2007, I'd kinda like to see CNC consider a north to south route. Since NC is only like 150 miles across N to S, that'd make it easy to have layovers in one town with multi- day loop rides outta that town. Think of a 3 leaf clover. We could generally travel along the historic immigration path the Scot-Irish and Germans traveled south from Penn into NC in the 1700s. Since the E-W trans-NC routes are now repeating cities, why not stay in one town for 3 days?
Oh, and any beer factorty tour better darned well offer up free samples after the tour. I could not believe the Miller joint in Eden spilled beer all over the floor and none down my mouth. After smelling and seeing beer everywhere for an hour and a half, it was torture to walk away with an unslaked thirst. Biggest beer joint I've ever been in, and no bar. Serious bummer!
If we go N to S, perhaps we could call it the 'Historic Tavern Tour'. I'd rather lift a cold one than screw with a wet tent every day. No harm in making the logistics easy for everyone.